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Sunderland vow to find cutting edge for Aston Villa test

George Caulkin

November 1 2012, 12:01am, The Times

O'Neill said Middlesbrough defeat was a test that Sunderland must overcomeCraig Brough

Martin O’Neill is facing a significant test of his management of Sunderland after the club’s mediocre start to the season and their dispiriting loss at home to Middlesbrough, their local rivals, in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup.

While O’Neill excelled in leading the team he supported as a boy away from the threat of relegation last season, a sequence of one victory in their past 16 league games, which stretches back to March, has now been compounded by two disappointing defeats in cup competitions. Sunderland were beaten 2-0 at home by Everton in the FA Cup quarter-final the same month.

The psychology of their long spell of difficulty under Steve Bruce can be regarded as a mitigating factor, as can their record…